Time-lock mechanism for safes



E. M. BENH AM AND 0.- P. BARTELS.

' TIME LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H, I920- 1,400,135, Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

4 SHEETS-$HEET l- E. M. BENHAM AND C. P. BARTELS. TIME LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES.

' APPLICATION FILED 05c. H, 1920.

1,400,135, x Patented D60. 13, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

"'lllll "IRW N II|n..... h... H-Hm. .32 d; llllllll-lllllllll lllll r 6' Emu E. M. BENHAM AND C. P. BARTEL-S.

TIME LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1|, I920. 1,400,135. v Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- p J3 /492 (5. o 22 1 ,52

E. M. BENHAM AND 0. P; BARTELS.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- @"Wflm. flun will will! Q HM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR M. BENHAM, OF NORWOOD, AND CARL P. BARTELS, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE MOSLER LOCK COMPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TIME-LOCK MECHANISM FOR SALEES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

T 0 all '10 720m it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR M. BENHAM and CARL P. BARTnLs, both citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, and at Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Lock Mechanism for Safes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to timelock mechanisms for bank safes or vaults. The particular object of the invention is to provide devices for rendering it impossible for a safe or vault door having an automatic type of locking mechanism to be locked out when the clock movements are, for any reason, removed from the timelock case and the door is closed.

In the socalled automatic type of locking devices for safe or vault doors, the locking bolts are thrown into locking position auto matically when the door is closed, a timelock mechanism being provided to retract the bolts at a predetermined time, no combination lock being used. The bolts are shot into locked position by a spring mechanism, the function of the timelock being to withdraw the bolt from looking position, or to retract the spring means which presses the bolt into locking position, at the predetermined time, for which the timelock movement is set.

It is sometimes necessary to remove the clock movements from the timelock case on the door in order to replace them with new movements, or to effect repairs on the locking mechanism of'the safe. The timelock movement being removed, there is'nothing to unlock the door, and accordingly if any one should, by accident or design, close the door when the timelock mechanism was re moved. from its case. the locking bolts would be automatically shot into their sockets, and I there would be no mechanism available to withdraw the same. The result would be what is termed a dead lockout.

Our invention is intended for the purpose of making it impossible for such lockout to occur whenever the timelock movements are removed from their case and the door is, for any reason, closed. We accomplish this purpose by the provision of means within the timelock casing which are held inoperative by engagement with the timelock movements when the latter are in position. When, however, the timelock movement or movements are withdrawn from the casing, this device is free to move in such a manner as to prevent the operation of the bolts into locking position.

In order that our invention may be more clearly understood, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings illustrating certain embodiments of our invention. In the drawings the screw door type of safe is illustrated, it being, however, understood that the invention is not limited in its applicability to this type of safe.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents an inside view of a safe door in closed position provided with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of a timelock casing, the cover thereof and two of the timelock movements being removed, illustrating one form of our invention; Fig. 4: is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, showing a modified form of our invention, all of the movements and certain other parts being removed; Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is aview similar to that shown in Fig. 5 showing a further modification of our invention; and Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the door 1 is illustrated as being of the screw type, and is closed by screwing the same into its seat in the wall 2 of a safe or vault in the usual manner. i

In the form of construction illustrated, the door is locked in closed position by means of a pivoted .bolt 3, which is pivoted to the door as shown at 4:. It will be understood, however, that the type of locking mechanism shown is to be considered as illustrative merely, our invention not being limited in its applicability to any particular type of automatic locking devices. The lower, or unlocked, position of the bolt is indicated at 3.

The timelock casing 5 is secured to the inner portion of the door in any suitable manner and contains one or more clock movements, one of which is indicated at 6. Three movements are generally contained within the casing 5, one only being shown at the lower portion of the casing, in Fig. 3, it being understood that two similar movements are intended to be mounted above the same.

In accordance with the usual construc-, tion, side frame members 7 and 8 are secured within the casing by means of screws 9, 9 to extend forwardly from the closed rear face 10 of the casing, considering the cover 11 as being located at the front of the casing, this being, of course, at the rear of the door.

Frame members 7 and S are provided with flanges 12, 12 across which the movements 6 are secured by screws 13. The plunger 14 is mounted to slide vertically on the front face of frame member 8 and to extend out through an opening 15 in the top 16 of the casing, plunger 14 being guided by the coaction of screws 17 with slots 18 in the plunger. 7 I

The plunger 14 is actuated by a suitable connection with the time movements 6, as by means of arms, one of which is shown at 19 pivoted at 20. The movements are wound V and set to open the safe at any designated hour by means of the winding spindles 21, the winding up of which causes the lower ing of arms 19 and plunger 14, so that the upper end of the latter will be located entirely within the casing. As the movements run down, arms 19 will rise, so that when the time for which, the movements are set arrives, plunger 14 will be raised into the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the top portion 14 of the plunger extends a re- 7 quired distance through opening 15.

6O by concussion applied against which extends inwardly A rocker-arm 22 is pivoted intermediate its ends to a lug 23 on the top of the easing. One end of the rocker-arm is pivotally connected to a plunger 24 which is suitably guided for vertical movement.

A spring 25 is secured at one end to the door and at the other end to plunger 24 to force the latter outwardly of the door, that is, upwardly in the position shown in Fig.

The outer end of. plunger 24 bears the inner surface of the pivoted bolt or looking dog 3 and tends to press the bolt into its locking position. i

A gravity dog 26 is pivoted to the door at 27 and has an arm 28, slidably mounted in a slot 29 in plunger 24. A finger 3O from pivoted bolt 3 is, adapted to'rest on gravity dog 26 to prevent the bolt from being driven inwardly from the outside when it is in a locked position.

When the timelocks are, wound up as stated, plunger 14 is drawn down into the casing 5, so that-rocker-arm 22 is free t? rock and to permit spring 25 to, press plunger 24 outwardly against the locking dog or bolt 3. The safe door is then moved into its seat and forced into the fully closed position by rotating the door, any appropriate mechanism for rotating the door being used. As soon as the door moves into its fully closed position, the pivoted bolt 3 moves outwardly into a socket provided therefor in the casing or wall 2, the gravity dog 26 then moving into its operative position, in which the end of finger will rest on the outer surface of the dog, against flange 26. lVe have indicated in the drawings two positions for the pivoted bolt 3, one in which it is in locked position and the other, 3 in which it is in open position, that is, entirely contained within the circumference of the door, indicated in Fig. 1 by the line 31.

.Vhen the timelocks run down, the outward movement of plunger 14 pulls the plunger 24 downwardly or inwardly, gravity dog 26 being moved from under the end of finger 30 into the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to permit bolt 3 dropping into the unlocked position, which'latter is indicated at 3 It will be noted that while the above description is required in order that our invention may be understood, none of the construction so far described is a part of our invention.

It will be noted that, if the timelock movements were removed from casing 5, if the the doorwere closed, spring 25 would force bolt 3 into locking position, and there would be no-mechanism 1n the casing 5 to rock rocker-arm 22 so as to retract spring 25. The means which we have provided overcomes this difliculty by the provision of devices which prevent the outward movement of plunger 24 and spring 25, when one or more of the clock movements are removed from casing 5. p

This may be accomplishedyin one form of construction, by the mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which a plate 32 is pivoted at one edge to a vertical pintle rod 33, the latter being supported by a member. 34

which is secured tothe rear wall 10 of the casing and plate 32.

the rear wall 10 of the 4 Plate 32 has an upwardly'extending arm 36 which extends outwardly through a slot 37 in the top 1601' the casing. Arm 36 is bent'forward y o e t e t p f he c s ng as is shown at 37 and is provided with a cam shaped or rounded head 38 at its forward end.

In the normal position of the parts, when the movements 6 are all properly positioned within casing 5, head 38 is entirely to the rear of rocker arm 22. When, however, all of the movements are removed from the casing, spring 36 will force plate 32 forwardly, so that head 38 will be forced between the top of the casing and the lower surface of rocker arm 22. The result of this is to cam the right hand end of the rocker arm upwardly, referring to Figs. 1 and 5, or to prevent the right hand end of the rocker arm from moving downwardly if it is in a raised position. Accordingly, plunger 24 and spring 25 will be retracted, if they are in their outward position, or prevented from moving into their outward position, to press bolt 3 into its locking position, if they are in their inward position.

Another form of construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As there shown, the plate 32 is hinged on rod 33 in the same manner as previously explained, and is provided with the upwardly extending arm 36 having the forwardly extending top portion 37 and the head 38 at the forward end of the same as previously described. The pins 35, however, are not formed on plate 32 but on the springmeans underlying the same. In this case a plurality of fiat springs 39 are used, these being secured to the rear wall 10 of the casing as indicated at 40. Springs 39 are used in a number corresponding to the clock movements used, so that if three movements are employed, three springs 39 will be used, each one in alinementwith one of the movements. Pins 35 are secured to the free edge portions of springs 39 and extend forwardly through slots 41 in plate 32' into contact with the rear surfaces of the movements 6.

In this case, when any one of the movements 6 is removed from the casing, the spring 39 which was in alinement with the movement referred to, will press forwardly against plate 32 so as to force the latter forwardly and accordingly to press the head 38 beneath rocker arm 22 so as to cam the latter upwardly. In the construction described, a spring 42 is secured to the forward face of plate 32 and bears against a stationary frame member so as to hold plate 32 in its rearward position until it is moved forwardlyby one of the springs 39 as stated, springs 39 being stronger than spring 42.

A third form of our invention is shown in Figs. 5, 5*, and 6. As there shown, a plurality of plates 32 32 are shown as independently hinged on pintle rod 33, plates 32 being equal in number to the clock movements used and in line with the same. Forwardly extending pins 35 are secured to plates 32 and are adapted to engage against the rear surfaces of movements 6. Plates 32 are pressed forwardly by means of leaf spring 39' which may be secured to the plates 32 'at one end and bear against. the rear wall 10 of the casing at the other end.

In this case, the arm whiclt extends out through opening 37 in the top of the casing has to be separate from the plates 32 since there are a plurality of the latter in this form of construction. Accordingly, in place of the arm 36 in the forms of construction previously described, we have provided a vertical strip 36 which is positioned immediately in front of all three plates 32 Strip 36 is guided for movement forwardly and back of the casing by screws 43 which extend forwardly from the rear of the easing through the upper and lower ends of strip 36 these screws having heads 43 to serve as stops. The top portion of strip 36 which extends outwardly through slot 37 is bent forwardly as is shown at 37 this bent portion 37 being provided with a cam shaped head 38 which is adapted to force itself beneath the right hand end of rockerarm 22 when any one of the movements is removed from the casing, in which case the plate 32 which was behind the movement referred to will press strip 36 forwardly.

Spiral springs 44 may be mounted about screws 43 between the heads 43 and strip 36 to normally hold the latter in its rearward or inoperative position. The springs 39 are stronger than springs 44, so that when any one of the movements is removed, the corresponding plate 32 will force strip 36 fowardly as noted.

The forwardly extending portion 37 of strip 36 may be provided with a guiding slot through which a vertical pin 45 extends. 105

It should be noted that our invention is not limited to the details of construction described, but is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying drawings.

What we claim is:

1. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt and a timelock casing carried by said door, timelock mechanism carried by said casing, means tending to press 115 said bolt into locking position, means operated by said mechanism to retract said pressing means at a set time, and means automatically operable to retract said pressing means whenever said mechanism is removed 120 from said casing.

2. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt adapted to lock said door in closed position, timelock mechanism carried 125 by said door, connected and adapted to cause the movement of said bolt into unlocked position at a set time. and means automatically operable to cause the movement of said bolt into unlocked position whenever said mech- 130 by said door,

anism is removed from operative position on said door.

3. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt and a timelock casing carried by said door, timelock mechanism carried by said casing, means tending to press said bolt into locking position, means operated by said mechanism to retract said pressing means at a set time, and spring-pressed means Within said casing normally engaged by said mechanism and held in inoperative position thereby, said means having a tendency to move, whenever released by the re moval of said mechanism from operative position, into position to prevent the operation of said pressing means.

4. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt and a timelock casing carried timelock mechanism carried by Said casing, means tending to press said bolt into locking position, means operated by said mechanism to retract said pressing means at a set time, and means automatically operable, whenever said mechanism is removed from said casing, to prevent the operation of said pressing means to press said bolt into locking position.

5. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt adapted to lock said door in closed position, a plurality of timelock movements carried by said door, connected and adapted to causethe movement of said bolt into unlocked position, at a set time, and means automatically operable to cause the movement of said bolt into unlocked position whenever any one of said movements is removed from operative position on said door.

6. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt and a timelock casing carried by said door, timelock mechanism carried by said casing, means tending to press said bolt into locking position, a rocker arm connected to said means, a plunger adapted to extend from said casing, operated by said mechanism to move said arm, at a set time, to retract said pressing means, and means, partly within and partly without said casing, normally held in inoperative position by said timelock mechanism, and moveable when said mechanism is removed from said casing, to coact with said rocker arm to prevent the operation of said pressing means.

'7. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt, means constantly tendingto press said bolt into door locking position, mechanism including a timelock movement for overcoming said means at a set time, spring means normally held in inoperative position by said timelock move ment, and a guided member immediately ger, and spring means in said casing,

moved by said spring means, when said movement isremoved from operative position, in a path transverse to that of said first named means, into position to overcome said first named means.

8. In locking mechanism, the combination of a door adapted to be locked to a door seat member, a bolt, means constantly tending to press said bolt into door locking position, a time lock casing on said door, havingopenings therethrough, a movable member adj acent thereto, connected to said pressing means, a plunger adapted to extend through one of said openings, a clock movement in said casing connected to said plunger to move the same outwardly from said casing, at a set time, to move said movable member away from said casing, to retract said pressing means, an arm extending through a sec 0nd opening in said casing, adapted to move between said-movable member and said casing, and spring pressed means in said casing, normally held in inoperative position by said clock movement, and movable when said movement is removed to move said arm between said movable member and said cas- 9. In automatic,'time retracted, door-locking mechanism, the combination of a casing on the door, having a pair of openings therein, a rocker-arm outside said casing, a plunger movable axially through one of said openings to press said arm in one direction, a clock movement in said casing, connected to said plunger to so operate the same at a set time, a member extending through the second of said openings, adapted to move transversely to said rocker-arm between the same and said casing, adjacent to said plunto the rear of said movement, normally restrained thereby and adapted, when said movement is removed, to press said member transversely toward and under said-rocker-arm.

10. In automatic, time-retracted, doorlocking mechanism, the combination of a,

casing on the door, having a pair of openings through its top, a rocker-arm on top of said casing, a vertical plunger axially movable through one of said openings to raise said rocker-arm, a clock movement in said casing, connected to said plunger to so operate the same at a set time, an arm extending through the second of said openings, having a horizontal forwardly extending portion above the top of said casing, and a springpressed member to the rear of said movement, having a forwardly extending pin normally engaging the rear surface of said movement, said member being adapted, when said movement is removed, to press said arm forwardly to cause its horizontal top portion to extend under said rocker-arm.

11. In automatic, time-retracted, door casing on the door, having a pair of openings through its top, a rocker-arm on top of said casing, 21 vertical plunger axially movable through one of said openings to raise said rocker-arm, a plurality of clock movements in said casing, connected to said plunger to so operate the same at a set time, an arm extending through the second of said openings, having a horizontal forwardly extending portion above the top of said casing, a plurality of spring means, one to the rear of each movement, and forwardly extending pins pressed thereby into engagement with the rear surfaces of said movements, each of said spring means being adapted, when 15 the movement in alinement therewith is removed, to press said arm forwardly to cause its horizontal top portion to extend under said rocker-arm.

This specification signed and witnessed 20 this 29th day of Nov, 1920.

EDGAR M. BENHAM. CARL P. BARTELS. lVitnesses:

J NO. J. Soo'rr, J. G. DONALDSON. 

